Reds Win Two Loser-out Games to Advance

The Crookston Reds scored in seven of the eight innings and Lars Brevik pitched a complete game to beat the Marble Mallards 13-7 in a loser-out game in the Region 10C Amateur Baseball tournament at Jim Karn Field in Crookston.

The Reds started the game on a good note with Will Zimmerman hitting a line drive over the center fielders head and Noah Zimmerman followed with a single through the left side of the infield for a 1-0 lead.  Bailey Schmitz followed with a single and Dave Grabowski hit a line drive to the right-center field gap for a triple to score two runs for a 3-0 lead.  Aaron Hollcraft followed with a single to left field and the Reds took a four-run lead.  Lars Brevik joined the hit parade with a single to center field and runners were at the corners.  Alex LaFrance gave the Reds their seventh hit of the inning with a single to score another run for a 5-0.
Marble answered with two runs in the top of the second inning, but Crookston answered with a Schmitz double off the base of the right-field fence.  Grabowski reached on a fielder’s choice and Schmitz scored on a wild pitch to give the Reds a 6-2 lead.
Marble added another run in the top of the third inning after a couple of hits and a Crookston error.  The next batter, Marble had a hit to score a run and Crookston committed an error and that allowed two more runs to score and the Mallards tied the game at 6-6.
Crookston regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Matt Morin tripled to score a run for a 7-6 lead.   The Reds added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on a Schmitz single for a 9-6 lead through six innings.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Matt Morin reached on a bunt and Hollcraft singled before Brevik helped his cause with a two rbi double to center field for an 11-6 lead.
Marble responded with a run in the top of the seventh inning only to have Crookston score another run when Grabowski hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Noah Zimmerman for a 12-7 lead.
Crookston added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning when Cody Wardner singled to score Hollcraft for a 13-7 lead going into the ninth inning.
The top of the ninth inning, Crookston’s Brevik retired the side in 1-2-3 fashion to pick up the 13-7 victory to advance in the Region 10C tournament.
Crookston improves to 22-17 on the year and will play the Bemidji Blue Ox on Saturday, August 11 and the winner of that game will advance to the state tournament.

For Crookston
Noah Zimmerman – 3-4, 2 runs, rbi
Bailey Schmitz – 3-5, 2 runs, 2 rbi
Lars Brevik – 3-5, 2 rbi, run

Third round game – Crookston vs Dilworth
The Crookston Reds beat the Dilworth Raildogs 12-2 in seven innings in the Region 10C tournament played in Crookston at Jim Karn Field.

The Reds started the scoring in the bottom of the second inning behind some base hits and Dilworth control issues.  Dave Grabowski started the inning with a line drive to left-center field and after an out, Lars Brevik singled through the left side of the infield, Cody Wardner followed with a hit to left-center field to load the bases and Blake Kawlewski was hit by a pitch to give Crookston a 1-0 lead.  Will Zimmerman drew a walk to score another run for a 2-0 lead.  Noah Zimmerman hit a slow roller to the shortstop and the speedy Will Zimmerman beat the throw to second base for the out and the Reds to a 3-0 lead.  Dilworth answered with a run in the fourth inning when their cleanup hitter hit a line drive off the fence in the deepest part of the park (at the 401 sign) to cut the Reds lead to 3-1.  Crookston added more in the bottom of the fourth inning when Alex LaFrance and Will Zimmerman had back-to-back singles.  Noah Zimmerman advanced the runners on agroundoutt to the second baseman and Dave Grabowski drove in two runs when he blasted a fly ball to left-center field. The center fielder dove for the ball, it went off his glove and Grabowski hustled to third base and Crookston led 5-1.
The Reds added another run in the sixth inning when Will Zimmerman singled, stole second base and scored on a Matt Morin single for a 6-1 lead. Dilworth added a run in the top of the seventh inning on a solo home run over the right-field fence and Crookston’s lead was 6-2.  The Reds answered in a big way in the bottom of the seventh inning when they scored six runs behind some hits and a lack of control by the Dilworth pitcher.  Lars Brevik and Cody Wardner singled, Blake Kawlewski singled to score a run for a 7-2 lead.  Will Zimmerman walked and Noah Zimmerman had a two-run single, which was followed up by a Matt Morin single to score two more runs for an 11-2 lead.  Crookston loaded the bases and Jackson Seibel was pinch hitting and drew a walk to score the winning run for a 12-2 victory in seven innings to advance.
Crookston will play the winner of Marble and Warroad at 7:00 p.m. tonight.

For Crookston
Dave Grabowski – 3-4, triple, 2 rbi
Cody Wardner – 3-4, 2 runs
Will Zimmerman – 2-3, 3 runs, rbi
Lars Brevik – 2-4, 2 runs